Presence of the red imported fire ant at gopher tortoise nests

Dziadzio, Michelina C.; Long, Andrea K.; Smith, Lora L.; Chandler, Richard B.; Castleberry, Steven B.

doi:10.1002/wsb.628

Cited by 8 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 35 publications

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“…Fire ants and mammals were the only known causes of mortality for head‐starts in our study. Although fire ants are a threat to young turtles (Allen et al , Buhlmann and Coffman ), including gopher tortoises (Epperson and Heise ; Dziadzio et al ,), mammalian mesopredators such as raccoons, skunks ( Mephitis spp. ), armadillos ( Dasypus novemcinctus ), and stray dogs are typically considered the primary predators of hatchling and juvenile gopher tortoises (Douglass and Winegarner , Butler and Sowell , Epperson and Heise , Smith et al , Smith et al ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Post‐release movement and survivorship of head‐started gopher tortoises

et al. 2018

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Gopher tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus) populations are declining throughout their range and recovery requires management intervention to alleviate losses. Population augmentation strategies may prove useful in recovery of depleted populations once threats are mitigated. We head‐started and soft‐released hatchlings produced from robust donor populations and evaluated their post‐release survivorship and movement for the first year following their release. During 2014 and 2015, we head‐started and released 145 tortoises, of which we radio‐tracked a subset of 41 individuals, from 2 cohorts at 2 release areas within Yuchi Wildlife Management Area in Burke County, Georgia, USA. Movement and mortality of gopher tortoises was highest in the first month after release but declined soon after. Estimated annual survivorship of our first cohort was 60.6%. Annual survivorship of our second cohort was low (7.1%) at the southeast release area but much higher (75.0%) at the northwest release area because of spatial variation in predation. Although survivorship was variable, site fidelity remained high throughout the study and no tortoise moved >122.0 m from its release location. Initial results suggest that head‐starting could prove effective as a population recovery tool, but that release strategy and predator mitigation, especially within the first month, are critical to success. © 2018 The Wildlife Society.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Post‐release movement and survivorship of head‐started gopher tortoises

et al. 2018

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“…Red Imported Fire Ant may impact both freshwater and marine turtle populations directly by preying on hatchlings and/or indirectly by stinging hatchlings resulting in reduced weight and survival (Allen et al 2001). They may be attracted to turtle nest sites by the mucous and moisture released by the female when eggs are laid (Allen et al 2001;Dziadzio et al 2016 ) supports the largest concentration of nesting marine sea turtles on the eastern Australian mainland and is one of two largest loggerhead turtle rookeries in the South Pacific Ocean region (Tisdell & Wilson 2001). The breeding that takes place here is vital for the survival of loggerheads in the region.…”

Section: Environmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

Red Imported Fire Ant in Australia: What if we lose the war?

Wylie¹,

Janssen-May²

2016

Eco Management Restoration

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Summary In Australia, a national eradication programme for the Red Imported Fire Ant (Solenopsis invicta Buren), one of the world's most invasive species, has been in operation since 2001 when the pest was first detected in Brisbane, Queensland. Since that time, four separate incursions of this ant have been successfully eradicated from this country, but the main Brisbane population remains. Cost‐benefit analyses already conducted put the likely impact of Red Imported Fire Ant in Australia, if not eradicated, at between A$8.5 and A$45 billion. Despite this, ongoing funding for the eradication programme is not assured. A recent external review has concluded that it remains technically feasible, cost beneficial and in the national interest to eradicate. In support of previous analyses, our study highlights some of the potential impacts of Red Imported Fire Ant in Australia in more detail and provides case examples. Results show that adverse impacts are likely in most sectors of the economy, and will be felt not only by agricultural industries, but also the building and construction, tourism, electrical and communications industries. In addition to industry effects, there will also be negative impacts on public health and lifestyle, the environment and infrastructure such as main roads, airports and schools. Our estimates of potential cost impacts in the case examples where extrapolation was possible exceed A$1.65 billion/year and support previous predictions. We conclude that increased spending is justified to avert ‘invasion debt’ – the future cost of battling pests that escape today. This is a war that Australia cannot afford to lose.

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“…, Tschinkel , Dziadzio et al. ). Additionally, many reptiles act as both a predator and prey of RIFAs, and research indicates that consumption of RIFAs can cause mortality through envenomation (Long , Robbins et al.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Second, many species inhabit disturbed areas that are the preferred habitat of RIFAs (e.g., eastern fence lizard; Sceloporus undulatus; Trauth et al 2004, Tschinkel 2006. Some reptiles (e.g., turtles and lizards; Ackerman 2003) also excavate nests in soil and may provide scent and disturbance attractive to RIFAs (Allen et al 1994, Tschinkel 2006, Dziadzio et al 2016. Additionally, many reptiles act as both a predator and prey of RIFAs, and research indicates that consumption of RIFAs can cause mortality through envenomation (Long 2013, Robbins et al 2013.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Invasive ants influence native lizard populations

Darracq

Smith

et al. 2017

Ecosphere

Self Cite

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Abstract. The red imported fire ant (Solenopsis invicta; hereafter RIFA) is an invasive predator found on four continents, namely South America, North America, Australia, and Asia. Red imported fire ants are implicated in the decline of native invertebrates and vertebrates throughout their invaded range. We used the eastern fence lizard (Sceloporus undulatus) as a model species to understand the influence of RIFAs on native reptiles in the southeastern United States. Our objective was to quantify the effects of RIFAs on fence lizard recruitment and survival. We experimentally stocked populations of fence lizards into eight enclosures with either ambient or reduced numbers of RIFAs from May 2012 to October 2013. Fitting LinkBarker models, we found that the RIFA treatment affected fence lizard recruitment ( f ), but not survival (Φ). Recruitment was 1.6 times greater in the enclosures with reduced numbers of RIFAs than in those with ambient numbers. Red imported fire ants likely affect reptiles with analogous life history strategies to those of fence lizards similarly. Consequently, RIFAs may have undesirable consequences for the biodiversity of reptiles in the southeastern United States and on other continents with established RIFA populations.

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Presence of the red imported fire ant at gopher tortoise nests

Cited by 8 publications

References 35 publications

Post‐release movement and survivorship of head‐started gopher tortoises

Post‐release movement and survivorship of head‐started gopher tortoises

Red Imported Fire Ant in Australia: What if we lose the war?

Invasive ants influence native lizard populations

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